Filling machine adapted to deliver metered amounts of solid comminuted materials



Feb- 23 11954 c. A. HEISTERKAMP ETAL 2,670,101

FILLING MACHINE ADAPTED TO DELIVER METERED AMOUNTS oF SOLID coMMrNuTED MATERIALS Filed May 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet l a 3 i, w

har/fs ifndef/Kamp /lafns Jan@ fd/mV F jura INVENTOR.

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Feb. 23, )1954 c. A. HElsTl-:RKAMP ETAL FILLING MACHINE ADAPTED TO DELIVER METERED AMOUNTS 0F SOLID COMMINUTED MATERIALS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 5, 1949 Feb- 23, 1954 c. A. HEISTERKAMP ETAL 2,670,101

FILLING MACHINE ADAPTED TO DELIVER METERED AMOUNTS OF' SOLID COMMINUTED MATERIALS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 3, 1949 INVENTORS Feb 23 1954 c. A. HElsTERKAMP ETAL 2,670,101

FILLING MACHINE ADAPTED TO DELIVER METERED AMOUNTS oF SOLID COMMINUTED MATERIALS Filed May 3, 1949 4 Sheets-#Sheet 4 mmi T0 7l/5r KHE/VER mvENToRs lefIa/a Maffia amz .Jbm I? ura UNITED STATES Patented Feb.. 23, 1954 FILLING MACHINE ADAPTED TO .DELIVER METEREDr AMOUNTS F SOLID .COMMI- NUT'ED MATERIALS Charles A.'Heisterkamp, Wynnewood, and'Morris PATENT OFFICE Application May 3, 1949, Serial N0. 91,094

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a lling machine especially adapted to deliver metered amounts of solid comminuted material of highunit value with a minimum of loss and under sterile conditions.

The machine comprises an intermittently moving member containing a metering cavity;l in one position of the member a metered charge of the powdered material is introduced into the cavity, and in anotherposition of the member the powdered material is expelled from. the` cavity, in both cases by the application .of differential air pressure. Suction is preferably used. for loading the cavity and pressure for discharging it.V During the charging of the cavity, the powdered material is retainedV by suitablescreens and we have found it desirableto providemeans for cleaning these screens. periodically by a scavenging air blast in a direction opposite to the air now during charging of the cavity. This may conveniently be done when the. cavity is in the discharge position.

A source of the powdered material is provided, such as a hopper, suitable located to deliver the material to the cavity in its charging position. Provision is made at the` discharge positionto deliverthe successively metered contentsv of the cavity, as through a nozzle, into desired receptacles such as vials. The vials may beplaced and removed manually, or provision may bemade for doing this automatically.

Among the objects of our invention are:..

To provide a machine ofsimple construction capable of metering small amounts of powdered material accurately and withoutloss; to` provide from the following description to thosev skilled inthe art.

In the drawings accompanying. thisspecication:

Fig. l is a perspective View of our.,machine showing alsoV associated drive motor, reduction I gear and air gages;

Fig. 2 is a side view partially sectioned on the vline 2 2 of Fig; 3;

Fig. 3 is a plan view'seen fromabove;

Fig. 4 is an end view, partly in section;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the cavity bar and adjustable cavity; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged View inl section of' the .wiper ringand associated ttingsin opening 66. *5

General Vconstruction.

Our machine ismounted on Aa wooden base I which supports a steel or cast iron bed plate 2. On the latter is mounted a backbone 3 which in turn supports vacuum valves 4, pressure Valves 5, guide 6 and hopper l.

A reciprocating slide bar 8 is slidably mounted on backbone 3, the right-hand end (viewing Fig. 3) being guidedby passing throughy guide 6. The left-hand end is guided as described below, so that in operation the slide bar has a longitudinal linear reciprocating motion. Projecting from'the rear side (upper side, viewing Fig. 3) ofthe slide bar 8 and rigidly aixed thereto is cam block 9 in the rear face of which is machined a cam groovefIIl.l To the forward (lower, Fig. 3) side of slide bar 8 is aiTiXed valve operating bar I I by means of gusset plate I2.

On the rear portion of bed plate 2 aremounted two pillow blocks I3 and I4, in which is journaled shaft'l.V The axis of this shaftis perpendicular to that of slide bar 8 and in nearly the same plane. A crank arm I6 is fixed on fthe forward end of the shaft and two pulleys I'I and I8 respectively on the middle portion and rear endA of the shaft; pulley I8 is a steppedpulley.

Crank arm I6 bears at its outer rend a pin and roller I9, which operatively engage cam slot lil in cam block 9. Accordingly rotation of shaft I5 causes endwise reciprocation of slidebar 8 and parts of the machine attached thereto. The contour of slot IIl is such that the `velocity of slide bar V8 is greatest during the midportions of its strokes and least at the ends.

Shaft I5 may be driven by any conventional means, as by belt. 20 connected with stepped pulley 2l of a reduction gear 42.2` driven by electric motor 23.

Metering slide21lis rigidly xed by means of cap screw 25 to the left-hand end of slide bar 8 (viewingFigs. 2 and 3). Slide 25 is formed with a longitudinal rib 26 on its underside having upwardly and inwardly beveled edges 2l. Rib 26 is of less width than slide 24, thus providing bottom flange surfaces 2s on which slide'24 may slide. The' bottom ange surfaces 28 rest 'slidably on, and rib 25 slides between, gibs 29 adjustably mounted on backbone 3. These gibs cooperate with guide 6 to ensure longitudinal Alinear motion of the rigid assembly ofv slide bar 8 and metering `slide 24.

Metering slide Meteringy slide- 24 is provided with adjustable metering cavity 30 and 'scavenging kport 3I.

end of backbone 3.

operate with the openings in the metering slide.

Metering cavity 3D, as shown in Fig. 2, extends completely through metering slide 24, while scavenging port 3| extends only partly through the slide vertically and communicates with the outside through lateral passage 32.

The metering cavity 30 is made adjustable Within certain limits by providing it with a movable side wall 33, this movable side wall being the concavely curved end of adjusting slide 34.'

Longitudinal movement of this slide increases or decreases the volume of cavity 30 as desired. For variations in capacity beyond the range of this adjustment interchangeable metering slides may be provided, having cavities of different sizes. v

Adjusting slide 34 is mounted with a close sliding i'lt in a corresponding slot'in the leit=hand` end (viewing Figs. 2 and 3) of metering slide 24, the slot' extending from cavity 30 to the end of the slide. Slide 34 is retained in the slot by means of Woodrui keys 35 sliding in grooves 36 cut longitudinally in the interior walls of the slot. Longitudinal adjustment of adjusting slide 34 in metering slide 24 is effected by means of micrometer screw 31 threaded into plate 38 which bridges the open end of the adjusting slide slot and is screwed fast to the end of metering slide 24 by screws 39. The right-hand end of screw 31 bears against the recessed end of slide 34 at 40, and the left-hand end of screw 31 within its recessed head bears against nut 4| retained on the end of threaded stud 42 by means of screw 43. Stud 42 Ais threaded into adjusting slide 34 and its positioning in the latter determines backlash in micrometer screw 31. The volume of cavity 39 may be related to calibration indicia 44 on metering slide 24 and adjusting slide 34.

H opper Hopper 1 is of generally conical shape but formed with a semi-cylindrical bottom portion in which .are mounted agitator paddles 52 on rotatable shaft 53. The latter is journaled in sleeve 54 mounted on the rear of the hopper,

and carries at its outboard end pulley 55 which is driven from pulley l1 by belt 56. Hopper 1 is mounted on hopper plate 51 by means of extensions 58 and studs and thumb nuts 59. Hopper 1 is provided with bottom outlet 60 registering with opening 6| in hopper plate 51. The latter is positioned by studs 62 in gibs 29 and maintained at the desired height by spacers 63 through which the studs pass. Wing nuts 64 on the studs hold the hop-per plate rmly in place. In addition to opening 6| the hopper plate is also provided with opening 65, spaced from opening 6| approximately the same distance as that separating openings 30 and 3| in metering slide 24.

Wiper rings and 'connections When hopper plate 51 is in position, openings 6| and 65 are respectively alined with openings G6 and 61 provided in the left-hand or hopper Since these openings coduring its reciprocations to alternately measure and discharge a desired constant amount of powdered material, provision is made in each case for a yieldable tight sliding iit with the top and bottom surfaces respectively of the metering slide. This arrangement results in reducing to a minimum the contact areas subject to sliding friction. The principle is the same in all cases, namely the use of a wiper ring pressed by an elastic element against the moving surfaces.

In the case of the outlet (iO-6| from hopper 1, the opening in 4hopper plate 51 in recessed around its lower edge to receive and retain wiper ring 68, having an L-shaped section, and live rubber washer 69, which presses ring 68 against the top of slide 24 to form a slidable but powdertight joint.

The other opening in the hopper plate 51, opening 65, is recessed around its upper edge to receive ange 10 of wiper ring 1|. The latter has a bottom portion 12 extending below the hopper plate and an upper portion terminating in a threaded nipple 13. Surrounding ring 1| with a loose fit is union nut 14 which is screwed onto annular fitting 15 fixedly mounted on a plate 51. This annular tting has an internal diameter slightly larger than that of flange 10 and contains a strong helical compression spring 16 resting on flange 10 and compressed by union nut 14.` The effect of this is, of course, to press ring 1| yieldably into contact with the top of slides 24 and 34.

In a similar manner, on the bottom of backbone 3 wiper rings 11 and 18 are retained and biased upwards against the bottom of slides 24 and 34 in openings 66 and B1 respectively by union nuts 19 and 80, annular ttings 8| and 32, and helical compression springs 83 and 84 bearing on ring anges 85 and 86.

Wiper rings 11 and 18 differ from each other and from ring 1| Ring 11 is internally threaded at its lower end and has a narrow internal ange 81 at its upper end. Against the latter is pressed a ne-meshed stainless steel screen 88 and below the screen a felt filter 89, both retained by plug 90 screwed into the internal thread of wiper ring 11. The upper end of plug 90 is perforated with a number of small drilled holes 9| and the remainder is drilled out to a large axial bore which is internally threaded to receive externally and internally threaded pipe adapter 92. Wiper ring 18 has an elongated outlet nozzle 92 adapted to enter the neck of a vial or other container into which the metered powdered material is destined to be delivered. Union nut 80 also differs from union nuts 14 and 19 in being more widely spaced from the associated wiper ring, in being provided with a soft rubber covering 93 against which vial tops may be pressed during lling, and in having a side outlet nipple 94 adapted to be connected with a rubber tube 95 leading to a dust receiver (not shown) or to hopper 1. A spiral cone of light spring wire 96 or other coarse screen may advantageously be placed loosely in outlet nozzle 92 to break up lumps of powdered material passing through the nozzle.

Air system Air flow in our machine is controlled by vacuum valve 4 and pressure valve 5. These are of identical construction but mounted on backbone 3 in mirror-image relation to each other. Construction will be described with reference to vacuum valve 4, corresponding parts of pressure valve 5 being indicated in the drawings by the same index numbers primed. Each valve is duplex, controlling two air circuits simultaneously. The valve block consists of a cover |0| and a body Cover and body are each provided with a pair of registering ports |03, |04 and |05, |06 tapped for pipe connections. A pair of slots |01 and |08 parallel to each other and to slide bar 8 is machined in the body |02, receiving with a close sliding t valve slides |09 and v||0. Each slide is provided with a stop'l and I |'2 atr one encl-4 and van,i `upstandin'gI angeffl I3 and II4fatv-theother. The flanges'are drilledand tapped to receiveadjustabie tappetl screws I I5 and I3 carrying lock nuts ||'|-and H8.V Compression springs I I9 and |20zlvbearinge on'the valve covers and slide anges and surroundingftlfiev tappet screws bias4 the valve slides in-the direction of the flanged ends. Each slide is provided-witha port |2I and |22. Y The portsare soglocatedthat, when the slides are in biased position, the-ports are'outof registry with cover andA body ports but, whenA the slides are moved longitudinally against the'compression springs, slid'eports |2|1 and |22 comeinto registry with cover and body: ports and clear passages through the valve-larefprovided.-

This is shown in valve 5, Fig. 3'. Since valveoperating bar reciprocates with=constantampl-i tude, 'theA travel of the valveslides may' be regulated by adjusting the tappetscrewsl I5, II 6,- I|5' and ILIG; a valve may even be yput out of action altogether by turning the tappet screw home; as is shown in Fig. 3 for slide-|09 andy tappet screw I I5.

Air pressure and vacuum Afor our machinema-y be obtained from any suitable source and may advantageously be supplied respectively through a pressure service line and reducing valve |23associated with a pressure-gageV |24 and a vacuum service line associated with a vacuum gage |25, though these form no part of our invention.-

Suction is applied from the vacuum service line through pipe |26 connecting with port |04 ontop of valve 4 (the rear half -of valve 4 is not used in the embodiment described herein). A suction pipe |21 connects bottom port |06 of valve 4 with a T |23,the branch of which is screwedinto -bottom port |06 of valve 5. To the third connection of T |28 is connected one end of rubber tube |29,y theother end of the-tubebeing-connected to adapter B2vby nipple |33 as shownin Fig. 2. This end of vtube |29 is shown disconnected-in Fig. l.

Air pressure is supplied by the service line through pipe I3I, T |32 andfbranch pipes |33 and |34 respectively to top Vport |04 of the-front half and bottom port |05 of the rear half of valve. y

Upper port |83 of valve 5 is connected by rubber tube |35 with wiper ring 13' by means of suitable fittings.

Lubrication In addition to conventional oil--holes yfor the rotating shafts, grease cups'are provided asat |36, |31 and |38 for lubricating theV slide bar guide 6, cam groove I and metering slidefgibsf29.

Operation With hopper 'I charged withthespowderedmw terial to be metered and with shaft. I beingoperated bymotor 23 and reduction vgear 22through the pulleys and belts shown, the-operation cycle is as follows.

The powdered material `inhopper iscontilr uously agitated and thus maintainedima fluent condition by paddles 52 on shaft 53 driven at slow speedby pulley 55 connected by beltz156 with pulley I1 on'shaft I5.

Rotation of crank'arm I3 on. shaft. I5 causes reciprocation of slidebar `Ii` and meteringv slide v2|! through the action. of crankfpinandrollerlBron camgroove I0 in cam block .Bcarried by slide bar 8i Assuming the slide assembly,'8:-241in itsA ex;` tremeleft-hand position-aszshown in Fig: 2,- it will ,bemoved to the right untilumetering cavity 33 is under outlet openings 60 and; 16| in hopper?! andhopper pla-.te 53|. Simultaneouslyzvalveopem ating bar II will havezmoved to the right, releasingpressure ony springssl I 9S and. |.2|)!.thusA permitting fbotlnpartsof -valve\5 to close-andtby pressure on .tappet screw, ,I Iii,A will have compressedspring |20.andopenedivalved by moving valveslde I I0 .until .pOrtJZLregisters .with lports |04 and |06. The openinglof thisvalvewill cause a suction waveto travel `from hopper V1f through openings .60 and 6 I metering cavity. 30,; screen and pipes I2'|.and. ,I26.-.and .associated iittings, therebyv drawing a charge. `of powdered:I material into metering cavity30f whereit is :momentarily maintained byE screen `8|! and :felt y89. i i Y Continued .rotation :of shafty l5 `will move the slide assembly 24-s8 toits extremefleft-hand-position where .meteringcavityy 30de in registryy with openings .65 "and Y6,'I.v Asr .the` metering. cavity .3D slides, past wiper ringsfandlf'li'l a precisely determined chargel .of -l powdered mate-rialwill be cut off and isolated in it. Simultaneouslywith the movement ofthe slideassembly, movement of valve operating bar I I will close valve 4 by releasing pressure onspring |20; thus cutting off suction, andfat the end 'of itsstrokewillopen both halves of valve`5'by'thefactionof' valve operating bar onvtappet'screws"|I5A and IIS',

moving slides |09' and"I`-I'0' against' theV pressure 5, through tube |29', opening'ftgu perforated plug 90, felt 83 and screen 88. The effect of this scavenging pressure wave-is to blow residual powdered material' and "anywloose feltl iibers` or other traces of detritus from the-'surface of the felt-screen lter assembly; to loosen thel felt fibers and clear the interstices',lv thus `preventingV the filter from becoming clogged? and impervious to air,` and to expel the loosenedy material fromthe machine `through port 3| and passage 32,` thus presenting a clean'pervious-lter surface to each charge.V This is` particularly, deslrable'rinmeterlng pharmaceutical materials such-as penicillin. The expelled material mayv be-collected"in a `suitable receiver kand reworked' for' recovery "of the powdered product.

Expulsion of the metered charge results :from passage of a pressure wave from the compressed air' service line throughpipe I'3I,'T |32; `pipe I 34, upwards through ports |052' '|2I' and |03 o f valve 5, through tubeI 35and opening'; This pressure wave expels the "metered chargeA from metering cavity 30, downwards through opening 61, wirehelix 96 "and'nozzle' inton av container such as a vial Which-hasV been placed, either manually or mechanically," under thenozzle; the mouth of the container'is 'advantageouslylield in contact with rubber"coatingx93i'lduring'this operation. Any air-suspende'ddust that.v may result` is blown out. through `nippleif94.'l This maybe collected separatelyjin `anydesired form of, collector or, sinceit is uncontaminated, may be returned directly to hopper. 1, depending,v on its character.

Continuing revolution. zo! shaft I 5ta-repeats @the f..yc1e.:.;A

Example In filling vials with crystalline penicillin powder and with manual positioning and removal of vials, satisfactory operation is obtained at a rate of 28 cycles per minute, the nominal charge being 1.95 g. per vial and the maximum variation in charge being a little over 12%, or a little over mg. A vacuum of 20-25 inches of mercury may be used for lling the metering cavity and an air pressure of 2 lb. per sq. in. for scavenging and discharging the metered penicillin. 98 percent or more of the material in hopper 1 is metered into the vials.

All parts of the machine coming in contact with the penicillin are of stainless steel, and these parts are sterilized before the run by washing with alcohol and drying in a current of sterile air. Disassembly of the hopper, slide and rubber air hoses, cleaning, sterilization, drying and reassembly require about 1/2 hour; no special tools are needed.

Modifications The main features of the machine described above are considered essential or highly advantageous for metering many materials, but, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, modifications may be made Without departing from our invention Where the character of the metered material permits. For example, with some freeowing materials the air-pressure differential at the discharge nozzle may be produced by suction instead of pressure, and when extreme purity of product is not essential and a non-clogging material is being handled, the scavenging stepI and means for effecting it may be omitted. The detailed disclosure of an embodiment of our invention set forth above is thus intended to be exemplary only and not to limit the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

From this disclosure it will be seen that we have devised a simple, eiiective and efficient machine for successively metering and delivering precisely measured amounts of comminuted material, that the machine is readily disassembled for cleaning and sterilization and readily reassembled without the use of special tools, that surfaces subject to sliding friction are reduced to a minimum by the use of wiper rings, that the provision of an adjustable metering cavity and readily interchangeable metering slides gives the machine great flexibility and that all parts are easily accessible for maintenance or replacement when worn.

We claim:

1. A machine adapted to meter successive amounts of solid comminuted material comprising: (1) a bulk container for said material, (2) a metering slide, (3) a discharge port, (4) means for providing diierential air pressure, (5) power means to move the metering slide, and (6) valve means controlling the diierential air pressure; the bulk container having a material outlet in sliding contact with the metering slide; the metering slide having a metering cavity and being movable in its own plane by said power means to bring the metering cavity successively into registry with the material outlet of the bulk container and the discharge port; the said valve means being structurally independent of said metering slide and being operated synchronously therewith by said power means to effect charging of said cavity when in registry with the material outlet of the bulk container and discharge of the contents of said cavity when in registry with the discharge port by application of short regulated pulses of differential air pressure to said comminutecl material; said discharge port comprising a nozzle in sliding contact with said metering slide; and the sliding contact between the metering slide and the material outlet of the bulk container and between the metering slide and the discharge port being provided by means of rigid spring-loaded rings resiliently bearing on the metering slide.

2. A machine as defined in claim 1 in which the metering cavity passes with a substantially uniform bore completely through the metering slide and which comprises means for charging the cavity when in registry with the material outlet of the bulk container by the application of regulated pulses of suction, a screen to retain the charge in the cavity during the application of suction, and means for discharging the contents of the cavity when in registry withv the discharge port by the application of regulated pulses of air pressure.

3. A machine as defined in claim 2 which also includes means for scavenging the screen by the reverse application of a pulse of air pressure while the contents of the metering cavity is being discharged and means for discharging the scavenged material separately from the metered material.

4. A machine as deiined in claim 1 in which one wall of the metering cavity is movable in the plane of the metering slide to desired different positions by means of a micrometer screw, whereby the machine is adapted to meter `desired different amounts of comminuted material.

5. A machine adapted to meter successive amounts of solid comminuted material comprising: a bulk container for the comminuted material having a bottom outlet, a metering slide mounted for linear reciprocating movement under the bulk container, an air port containing an air-pervious screen mounted under the metering slide and in registry with the bottom outlet .of the bulk container, a discharge port mounted under the metering slide in its line of travel at a distance from said air port, a second air port mounted above said metering slide and in registry with the discharge port, wiper rings associated with said bottom outlet, said discharge port and said air ports resiliently biased into sliding contact with the metering slide, a metering cavity in the metering slidepassing with substantially constant bore completely therethrough, the metering cavity having a side Wall movable in the plane of the metering slide by means of a micrometer screw to effect desired variations in the volume of the metering cavity, a scavenging port in the metering slide spaced lengthwise from the metering cavity a, Vdistance approximately equal to the distance of said second air port from the bottom outlet of the bulk container, the scavenging port having an opening through the bottom and an opening through an edge of the metering slide, power means to reciprocate the metering slide with a stroke of such length that in one position the metering cavity is in registry' with the bottom outlet of the bulk container and in another position with the discharge port, a source of air suction connected with said first air port, a source of air pressure connected with said rst and second air ports, and valves in the air connections .operated in synchronism with the reciprocations of the metering slide to apply suction to said rst airport when the metering cavity is in registry with the bottom outlet of the bulk container, thereby charging the cavity with comminuted material, and to apply pressure to said first and second air ports when the scavenging port and metering cavity are respectively in registry therewith, thereby scavenging the screen and discharging the contents of the cavity through the discharge port.

6. A process for metering successive small amounts of solid comminuted material which comprises the following steps: providing a bulk supply of solid comminuted material, transferring a portion of the material at a loading station to a partially enclosed three-dimensional metering cavity by the application of a regulated pulse of differential air pressure of short duration to said material While supporting said material in said metering cavity .on an element pervious to air but impervious to said material and exterior to said metering cavity, moving said metering cavity from the loading station to a discharge station and at the same time removing excess material from said metering cavity by moving an unenclosed side thereof past a Wiper element towards the discharge station, discharging the contents of said metering cavity at the discharging station by a second application of a regulated pulse of differential air pressure of short duration to the comminuted material contained in it, and reversing the travel of said metering cavity at the loading station and discharge station respectively immediately before and immediately after the application of said pulses of diierential air pressure.

'7. In combination with the process deiined in claim 6, the further step of scavenging the airpervious supporting element with a reverse application .of a pulse of differential air pressure simultaneously with the discharge of the metering cavity, and discharging the purged material separately from the metered material.

CHARLES A. HEISTERKAMP. MORRIS DANN. JOHN P. DURA.

References Cited in the 111e of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 941,024 Mantius Nov. 23, 1909 1,052,654 Crowley Feb. 11, 1913 2,170,469 Carter Aug. 22, 1939 2,314,031 Colburn Mar. 16, 1943 2,540,059 Stirn et al Jan. 30, 1951 

